Shoe.



H. C. EGERTON.

SHOE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIl. l9l8.

` Patented Oct. 22, 1918.,

J3 J5 56 -f Y... .2.. m1

miran statins sansaorme.'

HENRY C. EGERTON, 0F RIDG-EWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

SHOE.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that'I, HENRY C. EGERToN, a citizen of the United States, and now resident of Ridgewood, county of Bergen, 'and State of New Jersey, have made a certain new and useful Invention Relating t0 Shoes1 of which the followingis a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms part of the salne.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending applications Serial No. 218,679, filed February 23, 1918, Serial No. 233,000, filed May 7, 1918, Serial No. 235,078, filed May 17, 1918, and Serial No. 239,514, filed June 12, 1918, that is, this case contains subject-matter taken therefrom.

This invention relates especially' to boots and shoes comprising stiffening or connecting elements containing cloth or other fibrous materialv coat-ed or impregnated with cured phenolic condensation cementing material, that is, phenol aldehyde products, such as bakelite, condensite or the like. Shoe stiff'ening members of canvas or similar fabric impregnated with such phenolic condensation cementing material and having one or more layers cemented together and more or less cured or solidified may be incorporated in this way and toe boxes counters and stifi'ening inner soles of this construction may be advantageously used in various types of shoe and boot construction, either in connection with leather, canvas or rubber shoe types. rThese shoe stiffening members may be formed or arched up into the desired shape and then cured so as to produce shaped stitfener members which retain their form and stiften and support the other parts of the shoe when connected therewith in any suitable way.

1n the accompanying drawings showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing in separated position the parts which may be used to form a shoe of this general character. v

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal sect-ion through a completed shoe of this type.

Fig. 3A is a longitudinal section showing another form of stifi'ened shoe sole including the heel.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 11, 1918.

Patented Oct. 22, 31918.

Serial No. 244,340.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section showing a sole stiffener.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through a rubber shoe sole with which such a stifener may be used.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through another shoe sole construction comprising such an incorporated stiffener.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section showing still another stiened shoe sole; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are transverse sections through other sole constructions.

In the illustrative arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the shoe may comprise the usual shoe elements including the uppcrfl of any suitable material, such as waterproofed or coated canvas, for instance, may be reinforced adjacent the toe by a toe box formed of one or more thicknesses of heavy canvas or other fabric impregnated with phenolic condensation cementing material which may be cured at suitable heat for' suflicient time to convert it into the solid permanent form throughout at least a considerable part of the toe box, the lower edges below about the point 7, where if desired, the material may have only a single thickness, being left in partly cured soft condition in which it is much more flexible and readily cemented to other phenolicv impregnated elements.

The upper part may. `if desired, comprise several thicknesses of impregnated canvas or the like. such as 5, 6, to give ample strength and stiffness and the toe box may be covered by a toe cap 2 of any suitable material. such as coated or waterproofed canvas, if desired. A similarly impregnated and stiifened counter or heel stiffening member may be formed of a plurality of layers 95, 9G of phenolic impregnated canvas which may be cured in the upper part into the solid strong condition usually known as the moderate curing of such material, so

-as to retain the desired shape permanently while the lower part of this counter belowr about the point 22 may be formed of a single thickness of material which may for some purposes be advantageously left in the soft or partically cured condition. In lasting the shoe the upper, toe box, toe cap and counter may, for example, be stitched to the iii-sole l1 of any suitable construction which may advantageously be formed of one or more layers of heavy fabric or canvas coated or impregnated with similar phenolic. Condensation cementing material which may be left in soft or uncured condition so that the parts maybe bent readily and the edgein or portion bent down and inward to form an attaching flange 1l through which the lasting stitches may be secured along the lines l5 at the back of the shoe and along the dotted liliesr 10 at the toe. These toe box and counter stiiener members are described and specifically claimed in my copending application, SerialXo. 233,000, filed May T, 1918. If desired, also, a welt strip` such as '8, of similarly impregnated heavy canvas or braided fabric, sewed into the frontof the shoe by this lasting stitching andthe weltl strip mayT of course extend around the as the heel front as in ordinary leather shoe construction. The sole may lbe etliciently strengthened by incorporating therein a number of layers of such phenolic impregnated paper. terial, preferably of a more or less fibrous character, and for instance a filler strip v16 of this material may be applied next .the in-sole 11 and one or more other sti'ening4 strips 1T, 1S of generally similar character also applied in so far as desirable to further stien the shank portion 0f the sole. connector strip 19 which may extend throughout substantially the entire area of. the shoe sole may then be applied so as to be in contact with these inner layers or ele ments and to engage the inturned portions or edges of the lasted upper shoe elements. These sole layers or elements may all be securely and permanently united by compressing the parts and simultaneously curing or solidifying them by the necessary heat maintained for sufficient time to convert the phenolic condensation cementing material with which they are impregnated into the desired solid stii form. The welt strip under these conditions may, ofcourse,v be compressed against the sole connector strip 19, as shown in Fig. 2, and this may leave a projecting edge of this sole connector to which a leather or other sole may. be

attached in any suitable way as by stitching extending substantlally along` the line 9-9 around these elements.

It is some times advantageous, however,

to simultaneously connect a rubber composi-vtion sole. such as 20, which may have the integral heel Q1, to the other partsat the same time that` the various phenolic condens-ation cementing material is cured. For this purpose it is usually desirable to have the vsole connector 1,9 provided with a layer or coating of frictioned rubber composition which may be worked into vthe coarsely woven canvas or other fabric before it is may be shoe aboutas farv cloth or other suitable ma-v A sole.

impregnated or coated on its other side with the phenolic condensation material, such as bakelite. varnish, although of course in some cases vit may be desirable to simultaneously apply the frictioned or other rubber coating to one side of the abric and the phenolic condensation cementing material tothe other. lYhere a rubber heel is to be attached in this way it is desirable to provide suitable interlocking connecting mem-v bers, such as'the heel rivets 23, 2l, which mav extend up through t-he in-sole elements and be headed over inside of the same and have projecting headed portions to enter the rubber heel and interlock therewith during the vulcanizing process so as to insure permanent connection under the hard service conditions to which they are liable. It is also desirable to have a cemented liner strip, such as 13, cover these rivets and be cemented in place to the other in-sole elements during the curing and vulcanizing process which takes place in suitably heated molds capable of holding parts together and exerting thereon the desired degree of compression.

The' curing of the bakelite or other phenolic condensation cementing material may be carried out at varying temperatures and complete curing can in mostcases where relatively thin layersl or blocks are being `vu1canizing of these compositions can be retarded when' desired by the mcorporation of more of the inert weighting or mineral loading materials. In this way a single heattreatment under pressure may be used to vulcanize in place the rubber sole with or This corresponds quite without the heel of the shoe and to permanently unite and shape up the sole reinforcing and connecting cementing material ofA this general character.

In the form ofl the invention shown in Fig. 3 the sole connector stiffener strip or member :2T may, if desired, have its lower surface coated with any suitable rubber composition 93 which may in somecases be .frictioned theretoeither before or simultaneously with the application of the phenolic condensation c'em'enting ymaterial to the other side of the strip or canvas member preferably so as to impregnato its fibers to a considerable extent at least. In case the sole connector does not have suiicient thickness and stiffness when cured an additional stiffening strip or layer :26 which may. have phenolic condensation cementing material applied to or incorporated therewith may also be used and in some cases an additional layer of impregnated or other fabric 28 may p be interposed or otherwise incorporated as an additional shank stiffener, as shown in Fig. 3. In some cases it is desirablepto more -or less unite and shape or arch up these fabric stiffener members before they are united to the rubber shoe sole and for this purpose they may be molded under pressure at sufficient heat to more or less cure them and solidify the incorporated phenolic condensation cementing material and if this is done at moderate temperatures of, say, 200o Fahrenheit or less for av number of hours these stiifening elements may, if desired, be

completely cured or solidified without un-l dsirably vulcanizing or altering the rubber layer or composition which may be present on the, lower side of the sole connector 27. During the shaping and molding of such impregnated fabric stifieners Which if desired may be effected Without the complete' curing thereof it is' in many cases desirable to squeeze out ya considerable or the major part of the phenolic condensation cementing material from the attaching edge portions of the stiffener elements as by compressing the same considerably more forcibly than the other parts of the stiffening members.

For instance, these impregnated fabric strips 50 per cent of cured phenolic condensation.

cementing material. It is of course understood that similar results can be secured by applying in the first instance a relatively small proportion of such bakelite varnish or other suitable phenolic condensation material to these attaching edge portions of these stifening elements and in such event all of the parts can be assembled and molded together with the rubber composition shoe sole in the vulcanizing molds. As'indicated theshoe sole 25 of any suitable rubber composition may if desired, have the heel portion 31 and `may be .forced in the vulcanizing mold against the rubber coated side 93 of the sole connector so that when subjected to the curing and vulcanizing heat the sole is vulcanized and simultaneously united to the sole connector and the phenolic condensation cementing-material is simultaneously cured preferably to the moderately cured solidified condition so as to have the stiffness, strength, Waterproof properties and also the smooth upper surface desired, which can, of course, be secured in any of these forms of shoe sole by giving the coperating mold element a smooth or polished surface. rThis form of stiffened sole construction is described and more specifically claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 235,078, filed May 17, 1918.

Fig. 4 shows still another arrangement in which the stiff'ener member is indicated as comprising one or more layers V33, 31 of convas or other suitable material which may be coated or impregnated with phenolic condensation cementing material and then cured into stiff, permanent form in Whichthe two layers-are strongly and permanently united and also shaped or arched up if desired. The use of one or more such fabric stiff'ener strips or elements containing cured phenolic condensation material permanently incorporated and unit-ed with or otherwise used in connection with a rubber or other sole is quite advantageous in many cases, since the rubber or other flexible ,sole may be given in this way sufficient additional strength or stiness so that when the wearer is Walking over a stony or other uneven surface the shoe sole is not objectionably bent or in.- dented, and if desired such stiffened rubber soles may be thus given fully as much strength and stiffness as if formed entirely of high grade sole leather without sacrificing the desirable tough and other serviceable characteristics of a relatively pure ru'b- .v

ber composition which are usually desirable in the Wearing surface of the sole. Any desired number of coated or impregnated fabric strips or members may be used' for such stiffening, strengthening purposes and heavy fabric of any suitable character, such,

for instance, as canvas may be used and may advantageously be throughly impregnated so that when compressed an cured it may contain some thirty to sixty per cent. more or less of bakelite varnish or other suitable phenolic condensation cementing` material. Good results in making such sole stiffening members in this Wav may be secured by thor-vv oughly impregnating` or filling heavy canvas With No. 1 bakelite varnish as by repeatedlyj immersing the canvas the-rein and running it through pressure rolls.

general purposes when something equivalent to eight ounce army duck is used for these two layers. They may be thoroughly and strongly united by first impregnating them with phenolic condensation cementing material of this character and then curing or uniting them 'by heat after they have been forced directly together so as to preferably give what is known as the intermediate curing or hardening of such phenolic cer1`wo plies of heavy cotton duck are usually sufficient for menting material, as is known as` bakelite varnish. Good results can usually be secured by curing such material under pressure at temperatures of about 300 or so Fahrenheit .5 for an hour or so, and when two such layers ofA duck are cured'in .this way they can be .thoroughly united into a quite smooth, hard, strong 'sheet about lth of an inch thick which contains some fifty per cent. by

weight of the cured phenolic condensation cement-ing material. The resistance of such a compound sheet st-ilfening element a sixteenth of an inch thick can be appreciated by considering that a relatively narrw strip lo can be bent from a straight form into a circle of two or three inc-hes diameter without serious cracking or injury, and also that the bending modulus of rupture thereof corresponds to 15,000 to 18,000' pounds or\so per square inch. Curedv phenolic condensation stifening elements with or without one or more layers of cloth, paper or other fibrous material are permanently stiff ^and strong and are practically waterproof andimper- 2.5 vious'and ,also independent of any ordinary heat changes to which footwear is properly subjected which is in marked contrast to the softening of pyroxylin or similar cementing material when moderately heated and .its tendencyv to crack when chilled. A stiffe'ning'element of this general character consisting. of or comprising a sheet or layer of cured phenolic condensation cementmg ma.

terial when used in a shoe sole above a rubber sole or element therein and preferably incorporated with such rubber sole element can effectively prevent the undesirable action of the rubber composition on the foot ofthe wearer so as to remove this objection to ordinary rubber shoe soles. Fig. 5 indicates a way in which such a, sole sti'ening member may be used in connection with a rubber shoe sole 364 without vulcanizing or otherwise permanently uniting it thereto. The shoe sole may as indicated `be molded with a recess 87 to accommodate the stifener mem- .ber andthe sides 35 of this stilfener recess may be arranged adjacent thereto and preferably close enough to the edges of the stiffener'so that when the sole is stitched our l otherwise Isecured to the shoe, portions.' of Jthe rubber are forced over toward the stiffenerto hold it in lateral valinement at least.

s'uficiently to prevent any vundesirable .cuttmg, wearingor other action on the"stitch ing, for instance. Fig. 6 shows another arrangement in which a similar sole stidener which may of course be shaped or arched' up before curing and outlined or cut to the edesired 'shape may be used in connection with a shoe sole of the standard Goodyear welt type.

stitched to the in-sole 38 and to the welt i rlhe upper 44 of the shoe, together with the lining 43 if desired, may be pasarse@- sole in which the sole stilfener consisting of one or more united layers or strips of can-v vas or other fabric 33, 34, lnay be arranged together with cork or other filling composiv tion which is preferably arranged around thev edges of the stiffener as at 62 to substantially maintain its lateral alinement under service conditions. The leather, rubber or other sole 41 may be stitched or otherwiseattached to the welt stripj48 as by the y75 stitching 42 and the stiffness of the sole is of course greately enhanced by the reinforcing action of these stifener elements. Fig.

7 shows vstill another construction in which the in-sole 46 is attached to the upper and 80 lining strips 43, 4.4 and to the welt strip 48, f the space below the in-sole being in this instance lled with the usual cork or other filling in-sole composition 47. The sole-'stiener preferably comprising fibrous material, such as one or more layers of canvas or other fabric coated or impregnated with phenolic condensation cementing material and cured or hardenedunder heat in the desired shape may as indicated in this instance extend throughout the entire width of the shoe sole so that the edges of the united stift? ener layers .33', 34 may be visible at the edgesof the finished shoe Isole. vThe stiener may be outlined or cutto shape before assembly'with the other parts of this shoeor trimmed or ground off thereafter so aS to be in line with the other shoe sole portions.

This stifener member may be united to the other elements of the shoe when it is assembled by any suitable means and as indicated the stiffener, welt and leather or other shoe ysole 45 may be securely attached together by' nailing, stapling or stitching-,or by the screw nails 47 which may be vforced through these 105 parts in the usual way to hold them securely in position during service.

In the embodlment ofthe invention l, shown -in Fig. 8 one or morer fabric strips or stifener members 750,. 52 coated or` im- 110 pregnated with phenolic condensation cementing material .may be used 'and if de- .sired an interposed or uniting strip or member 51 of special open mesh or loosely woven fabric, if desired, may be used in contact with or interposed between such stiii'ening strips. In some cases it is suflici'ent where such an open mesh strip is interposedbetween two previously impregnated stiifening elements to rely upon the phenolic condensation' .cementing material which mayl be squeezed into this connector strip during p the molding and curing process lwithout applying any such .cementing `material directly thereto. This uniting'stifener strip 125 may, if desired, have an edge portion 53 eX- tending into or through the adjacent attaching or edge portion 60 of the rubber shoe sole 49. and this'part of the strip' may have the rubber securely incorporated withl '131 or attached thereto during the vulcanizing process in connection with a previously applied layer or coating of any suitable rubber composition which this part of the connector strip may contain. 1f desired, a frictioned or other rubber coating 93 may be applied to the lower surface ofthe stifi'ening strip or element 52 with which the rubber sole engages and this is preferably done before the phenolic condensation cementing material is applied to this strip or layer of fabric. 1in some cases it is, however, suliicient to impregnate the fabric With phenolic condensation cementing material in the usual way and after drying force the'unvulcanized rubber sole composition against the strip in the vulcanizing mold When the, heat first softens or melts the phenolic condensation cementing material to such extent that it is forced to some extent out of the fabric with which the rubber engages and the softened rubber composition is' simultaneously forced into the pores or interstices ofthe adjacent fabric so as to secure strong adherence thereto When the vvulcanizing is completed. Fig. 9 shows still another arrangement in Which several layers of canvas vor other fabric 55, 56 impregnated or coated With phenolic condensation celnenting material may be preliminarily stitched at 61 and united t0 form the stiifener and having undercut edge portions formed by the projecting portions 92 of the lower layer 58 of such material. Other intei-locking portions of the stifi'ener may be conveniently formed by cutting or bending down flaps or portions 58, 59 which may be first cut along H shaped vlines and then forced downward during the molding and curing of the stifener, for example, so as to be permanently retained in this general shape. During the molding and vulcanizing of the rubber sole 49 thereto portions or plugs of rubber 57 may be placed in these openings or forced thereinto during the molding and vulcanizing process so as to form interlocking securing plugs or rivet members 36 of rubber definitely positioning this part of the stiifener With respectto the coperating part of the shoe sole Without leaving any very large or undesirable amount of rubber exposed on the upper surface of the sole element. tions of Figs. 8V and 9 are described and more specifically claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 239,514, filed June 12, 1918.- Of course many of the preceding forms of stifl'ener comprising one or more layers of canvas or other fabric carrying phenolic condensation cementing material ma)v be sold or shipped in cured or uncured form, the lavers being preferablya at least adhesively secured in proper position or slightly tacked or stitched together as by the stitching 61 shownin Fig. 9; or they These construcmav be assembled in uncured condition in the vulcanizing mold together With the rubber sole composition, and then during the heat of the vulcanizing process and pressure of the mold the parts may all be forced together and the rubber vulcanized and interlocked and united With the stiifener elements which are permanently' stifl'ened and united by the curing of the incorporated bakelite or other phenolic condensation cementing material. 1n this Way Vit is possible to coat or impregnate such fabric stitfening sheets or elements and supplyy them in uncured condition, if desired, to rubber shoe sole manufacturers for incorporation in any desired part of the rubber soles in Which their edge portions at least .are preferably more or less embedded and interlocked. Where tlie separate cured stilfeners are sold or shipped separately before being attached to the rubber shoe soles or other parts of the shoe they may of course be united to the coperating shoe elements in any suitable Way as by cementing, stitching `or nailing, relatively yieldable penetrable edge attaching portions being desirable for this purpose which may be thinner or contain less phenolic condensation material, for example. 1n some cases certain rubber compositions seem to become more or less impregnatedwith the aldehyde component of the ba'kelite or the like so as to cause a noticeable odor', which gradually disappears, and if desired, this odor can be more rapidly eliminated or destroyed by moderate heating to temperatures insufti' cient to injure or alter the rubber or phenolic condensation cementing material, several days exposure to the air at heats of 100c to 120o F. or so being ample to practically or completely destroy any objectionable odor.

This invention has been described in connection With a number of illustrative embodiments, forms, proportions, elements, parts, shapes, materials,'compositions, methods of preparation, )reduction and use, to the details of which isclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, since What is claimed as new and what is desired to be Vsecured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. The shaped up shoe stiener member comprising a plurality of layers of canvas united by and thoroughly impregnated With cured phenolic condensation cementing'material to the extent of about 30 to 60 per cent. by weight of said stii'ener member and strengthening the same. y

2. The shoe stiifener member comprising a plurality of layers of fabric united b v and impregnated with cured phenolic condensation material to the extent of more than 25 per cent. by Weight of said stiti'ener member.

3. Thearched upstili'ening shoe element inateriaL for cotton fabric impregnated with cured phenolic condensation cementiiig and stiffening 'materiaL said stideningelement comprising a vulcanized rubber portion engaging and permanently secured to said fabric.

5. The shoe stiffener member lcomprising fibrous material carrying phenolic condensation eementing material.

6. rIhe shoe element comprising porous material carrying-cured phenolic condensation cementing material to stiien and strengthen the saine. 7. rIhe shoe element comprising fibrousv 'material carrying cured phenolic condensation cementing and stifening material, said shoe element comprising a vulcanized rubber portion vulcanized to said fibrous material.

8. rIhe shoey stiffener element comprising fibrous material and incorporated cured phe; noliocondensationl 'cenieuting and stiening '19. The arched up shoe stiiiener member comprising a plurality of layers' of fabric containing cured phenolic condensation ma.- terialto the extent of about thirty to sixty per cent. b v Weight of said stiifener member and stifening and strengthening said member.

10. 4The shoe stifener membercomprising fabric containing phenolic condensation materialto the extent of about thirty, to sixty per cent. by weight of said stifener member stifening and strengthening, ksaid member.

The shoe sole sti'ener member comprising fabric containing cured phenolic condensation cementing material and having a.

' previously shaped portion adapted to stifen and strengthen the coperating shoe ele-f `ments with which said stifl'ener memberA is incorporated.

12. The shoe sti'ener member' comprising fibrous material containing cured phenolic con ensation cementing material adapted to sti en and strengthen the coperating shoe elements with which said stifener member is used.

13. The shoe sole stiti'ener member formed of a pluralityv of layers of fabric containing cured phenolic condensation cementiiig material andv having relatively thinner more penetrable attaching edge portions containing less of said cementing material and adapted to'be` more readily penetrated by the attaching stitching.

14. The shoe sole stiifener member formed of fabriccontaining phenolic condensation cementing material and having relatively penetrable attaching edge portions containv ing less offsaid cementing material.

4. rl`he stiflening shoe element comprisingy Lesage@ ber being relatively flexible and adapt-ed to f promote the union of said stiffener member with the coperating -slioe element..

16. rl`he stifener member adapted to cooperate ivith a shoe element and comprising 'fabric carrying phenolic condensation cementing material uniting and strengthening said st-iifener member, edge portions of said stifener member being relatively penetr'able and adapted to promote the union of said stiener` member with the coperating shoe element. y

17. The stiener member adapted to cooperate' with a shoe element and comprising fibrous material carryingphenolic condensation cement-ing material for strengthf ening said stifener member, portions of said stiifener being relatively thinner and more peiietrable and adapted to promote the union of said stii'ener niemberswith the coperating shoe element.

18. The shoe sole stifener member comprising a plurality oflieayy fabric layers carrying cured phenolic condensation ceinenting material to stifen, waterproof and unite said member, said stiffener member having a relatively thin attaching edge portion extending around its front portion and a rubber coating on one side of said stifener" member.

19. The shaped up shoe st-iener member comprising a plurality of heavy fabric lay- 'pers carrying cured phenolic condensation lcementing material to stifen and strengthen `said member and give it a substantially smooth surface.

20. The fabric shoe' stifener member impregnated with phenolic condensation ceinenting material to stii'en and waterproof said member and a.' rubber coating on portions of said stitfeer member.

21. The brous sl'ioefsole stifeiier member having substantially the outline of a shoe sole and carrying cured phenolic con. deiisation cementiiig material.

22. The shoe sole stiiiening member com-' prising a plurality of layers of fabric carrying phenolic condensation ceiiieiitiug material which is cured at least throughout poi'- t-ions of said member to stii'en and maintain the shape thereof.

23. The shoe stiifening member comprising.fabric carrying phenolic condensation 'cementing material which is cured and solidified at least throughout the body por-2 tions of said member to stiften' and maintain the shape thereof. A

24. The shoe stiffening member comprising fibrous material containing phenolic con- 25. The shoe stii'ener member comprising densation cementing material which is cured fabric containing phenolic condensation ceatl least throughout portions of said memmenting material and having a coating of 10 ber to stiffen and maintain the shape thererubber composition adhering to the fabric 5 of, the attaching portions of said member throughout a portion of said stiener membeing relatively weaker and more readily ber. penetrable by attaching devices, HENRY C. EGERTON. 

